FEMINISM IS SISTERHOOD

When the women's movement came to the Philippines in the 80's, many members of the non-government organizations did not believe it. Some thought Filipino women were already liberated, just because they were involved in the socio-political processes of the country like social work, the anti-Marcos movement, and having an all-women membership organization.

But through the years, things have changed. We've  been able to show that the Feminist consciousness is different from being purely political. Feminist consciousness in politics is looking at the problems and issues from the Feminist point of view. And what is the Feminist point of view?

It is looking at the Problems from an aware women's eyes. For example, looking at the Kavanaugh problem last week, we view it as not merely recognizing that Christine Blasey Ford suffered in the hands of the attempted rapist. Rather it is doing justice to what had happened to her by acting on the nomination.

And so when I read that a Senator said, "oh yes she suffered; her story is true but it is not enough to block the confirmation of the nominee for justice," then there is a contradiction there. The injustice remains in the head but in terms of acting on it, dismissal of the Story is the result. No action on it. 

Instead, the nominee was thrust into the position as if nothing, no Intervention had been made to show the character of the nominee being irrelevant to the position. 

Hence  Feminist consciousness is absent here. Why because Feminism is not a purely rational endeavor but is connected, tied to the idea of acting to solve and correct the problems of women.

In my study of the sense of Sisterhood among three sectors of women: urban poor, corporate and academic women I found out that the most open to the idea of helping women were those in the urban poor. They had to band together to face the State which wanted to demolish their homes. In the corporate world, the women were most maternal. They had always felt guilty leaving their children at home. Why because their work required them to stay in the office longer than usual in order protect their positions and thereby earn a good salary. Unfortunately, the women from the academe were the most competitive, and least maternal as they had had to vie with the men for positions of power and for grants for intellectual research.

Analyzing what happened to Christine Blasey Ford, I think that the women who should have supported her were not aware of what it means to be a Feminist.

Feminism is tied to the theme of Sisterhood, not mere institutionalization of benefits to women through legislation. It means thinking, feeling and acting for and with women.  

To those who do not think or act along those lines, they are still imprisoned by the idea that they have to shine before the eyes of men, instead of acting from within; that men's approval is more important than women's supportive acts; and that enjoying the appreciation of men is shining also under that power - that reflected light that I call. That being with men and being appreciated, though in a subordinate role is so much more uplifting for them.

How sad really.


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